The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-27
READING FOR THE SABBATH.
International Bible Lesson-Fourth Quarter,
Lesson Y, Dec. 4.

PARABLE OF THE SowER-Matt xiii liz.
Golden Textile seed is the word of God.-Luke
Monday-The sower .:--..------Matt- xiii, 1-2 rs
Tuesday-The reaping- GAL vi, I-Is-
Wednesday-The law of the harvest 2 Cor tx. LIP
Thursday-Harvest and resurrection, i Cor xv3 54S-
Friday-Th psalm of harvest Psa. lxv, I-!5.
Saturday-Fruits; carna and spiritual Lie
Sunday-The Christians commission. John Ky, lis
In the early autumn of A. D. %, few months
after our last lesson, the series of parallels
found in Matt. xiii was delivered. The crowds
that waited on our Lords ministry invited
change from the house preaching in Capernaum
to the larger accommodation of the lake beach
Entering boat he pushed out a little way from
the shore, and from this addressed the multi
tudes before him. The sower is the first re-
corded instance of Christ's teaching in parallels.
Andrews Gays it plainly marks onward step
in bis ministry. "He had now testified Of him
self both in word and deed, and manifested him
self as the Messiah; and 1t was becoming APP
parent to him that the great body of the people
had discernment of his divine character and
mission, and would not receive him, however
they might for a time be personally attached to
to him and marvel at bis words and works The
Pharisees, the spiritual leaders both at Jerusalem
and in Gaiee, had taken decided steps against
him, and. though with the common people his
popularity seemed now at its height, he dis
cerned that there was no root of faith. and that
most followed him through motives of wonder
and idle curiosity. He could, therefore. we'll
speak of them Matt xiii, 1919, hearing his
words and not understanding them. seeing
To them he could not explain the mysteries of
the kingdom. He must use the form OF the par
able, which, hiding its meaning from the care
less and foolish. opened it to the diligent and
wise seeker after truth" The parallel accounts
are given in Mark iv, 1-9; Luke viii, 4-S, and
our Lords own Interpretation will be found in
Matt Kill 1928; Mark iv, 1920 AMI Luke viii 9-15.
SUGGESTIONS
The Wayside Hearer-Hearts which have be-
come hardened by ordinary thorough
fare for all sorts OF traffic spritua; and world
ly. These are the waysde hearers. As Marcus
DoGs says: ''They throw off Christs offers
slated roof throws off hail. You might well
expect seed to grow on tiehtly-braced drum
head the word to profit such nearer; it
motion shakes it off" Then what is to be done
for such a character2 If anything. he must do
it for himself He can begin by a determina-
ton to give no thoroughfare to bad customs and
evil habits TO rule out worldlin ess and wicked
ness; to welcome and encourage fertilizing
thoughtfulness and meditation, and to wait
of Gods grace and instruction. These are all
possible and necessary. and any wayside path
may be thus reclaimed to fruitfuness.
The Shallow Soil-"1f q type of this class
is sought for in the gospel records" says Pro-
fessor Bruce, it may be found in the man who
said unto Jesus: Lord, will follow thee with
ersoever thou goest;' and TO whom Jesus replied:
Foxes have holes and birds of the air have
nests, but the Son of man hath not where to
lay his head Fad, Luke X, Pr The reply clearly
some sudden impulse proposing TO follow Christ,
without considering what the step involved"
So. too, among the crowd who heard this para
BILE. There were many who followed Christ
gladly until the first breath Of danger passed
upon Him. then ''they went back, and walked
no more with Him" Such. too, is the history of
many revivals. ''Many converts, few stable
Christians; many blossoms. little fruit coming
to maturity"
Among the Thorns-This hearer is neither
stupid nor a mere man of feeling, but who
hears with both thought and feeling. The
soil is neither hard on the surface nor shallow;
it is impure There are other seeds in it, and the
result will be two crops struggling for the mas
terry. and the worst crop prevails He is man
Of two minds: one mind to day, another to-mor-
row. So he continues until the struggle be-
comes a triumph, and the thorns triumph over
the grain He bringeth forth fruit but no fruit
to perfection. He never attans to ripeness in
his personal character. Anyone can see that he
is . misthriven Christian, man defeated by the
world in one form or the other-a spiritual fail
ure.-Bruce.
In Good SoiI-The precise distinction of the
perfect nearer is that ne deceives and retains
the word alone in his mind. He is character
istically single-minded and whole-hearted in re-
lipiOu.-Bruce.